1899] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 261 



rails vere old and full of cracks and crevices. For some 

 nnknown reaison I pulled off a partly loose piece, and there, on 

 tke under side, were four black Fsocids, sitting, as happy as 

 could be. "Tliat," I said, "is it; they are inside of the 

 rails." Piece after piece I pulled off and found plentj' of the 

 l)lack species. Finally, fearing the farmer's wrath, for the 

 partial destruction of his fence, I hurried away to my room. 



While hunting for this species I came across a few specimens 

 of that widespread but rarely seen little Fsocid, Amphientomum 

 hageni Pack. This made four species of Psocidm from that old 

 snake-fence — a very good showing. 



Fsocus perplexus Walsh, the most common of all, is a pale- 

 Tringed species, living in colonies on the outside of the rails. 

 There egg masses were common and contained about twenty 

 eggs on the average. Xymphs and adults were grazing together 

 on the under surface of the rails. The nymphs transform to 

 adults in the morning, clinging to the under side of a rail ; the 

 soft white wings drooping while expanding. The adults are 

 very pale at first, but in day or so get the proper colors 

 and are then quite pretty. They will not fly readily, but run 

 when disturbed. 



Psocus punis Walsh. Larger and paler than the preceding ; 

 no markings on wings, except a black dot on posterior margin. 

 These are less common and more scattered than P. perplexuSy 

 but have the same habits. 



PsocHs, n. sp. Black ; the veins dotted with white. Found 

 in groups of from three to six beneath loose pieces of the rails. 

 They are not easily disturbed and do not run quickly. They 

 evidently flj- at twilight, for pairing and migration, and are 

 then attracted to white surfaces. The nymph was not found. 



Amphientomum hageni Pack. This hides in a crack or under 

 a piece of lichen. It has much resemblance to a Tineid moth. 

 It does not take readily to flight, but runs from one crack to 

 another. The nymphs, contrary to the usual rule in Psocidce, 

 is quite flat, and looks much like one of the bird-lice. 



